William R. Edwards

As printed in 1912

WILLIAM R. EDWARDS (1887). For a quarter of a century W. R. Edwards has resided in Tracy and during all of that time was the publisher of a newspaper. His newspaper career covers a period of thirty-two years, and for fifteen years before that he engaged in teaching. He has served as postmaster of Tracy and has held many offices of trust within the gift of his neighbors.

Mr. Edwards was born at Ravenna, the county seat of Portage county, Ohio, September 4, 184 0, of Welsh descent. In 1849 he accompanied his parents to Oshkosh; Wisconsin, and there grew to young manhood. He was educated in a normal school at St. Louis and in the Bloomington, Illinois, Normal. After securing his education Mr. Edwards entered the teaching profession, with which he was identified fifteen years. He was superintendent of the Faribault, Minnesota, public schools in 18 7 0 and 18 71, and for four years was principal of the Osage, Iowa, schools.

In 1878 Mr. Edwards gave up teaching and became a journalist, which pursuit he followed until his retirement from active labors in 1910. He published the New Hampton Courier from 1878 to 1882, edited the Warren, Minnesota, Sheaf four years, was connected with a Minneapolis religious paper several years, and published the Hutchinson Leader for a time. He located in Tracy in 1887 and bought the Tracy Republican, added the Tracy Trumpet in 1900, and published the Republican-Trumpet until his retirement in

Mr. Edwards has always been an ardent Republican and has been active in the councils of his party. He has never sought office but on numerous occasions has been called to serve in offices of trust. He was a delegate to the St. Louis convention that nominated President McKinley, and when

Knute Nelson was governor of Minnesota he \v;is a member of the state central committee. In 1888 he was appointed county superintendent of schools to fill a vacancy and at the next election was chosen to a full term. For ten years Mr. Edwards was secretary of the Tracy District Fair Association, was at one time president of the Tracy Board of Trade, and for ten years was secretary of the Tracy Board of Education.

Mr. Edwards is a Presbyterian in religious faith and is an elder of the Tracy church. Fraternally he is associated with the Masonic, Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen lodges.

Richard and Anne (Jones) Edwards, the parents of our subject, were born and married in Wales. Upon their arrival to America they settled in Ohio and in 1849 made settlement in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where both died.' There were nine children in the family, of whom the only ones living are William R. Edwards and Mrs. Margaret Gittings, of Oshkosh. One child of the family, Richard Edwards, LL. D., D. D., born in 1822, had a national reputation as an educator and lecturer. The deceased children of the family were Richard, David.. Elizabeth, Isaac, Mary, John and Hugh.

William R. Edwards and Josie Bigelow were married at Charles City, Iowa, July 19, 1870. Mrs. Edwards is the daughter of Chauncey and Laura (Curtis) Bigelow, old New York State settlers, and she was born in Cattaraugus county of the Empire State. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Edwards, of whom the following named four are living: Josephine, the wife of George A. Pearce, Duluth; Vera L., the wife of Dr. Don Casselman, Tracy; Hazel, who resides at home; and Maurine, a graduate of the Mankato Normal School and a school teacher.

As printed in An illustrated history of Lyon County, Minnesota (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.